Tickets ($35) and table seating may be reserved by calling dinner chairman Ron Fiorella at 203-521-8099 or payment may be mailed to Stratford Old Timers at P.O. Box 226, Stratford, Ct 06615. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and no tickets will be sold at the door.

Edwin "Corny" Cornwell

Born and raised in Bridgeport's East End, Cornwell has been a fixture on the regional sports scene, especially in baseball, for over 60 years as a player, coach, scout, sponsor and league administrator since he assembled his first team, the Picayunes of the Junior Rec League, at the tender age of 16 in 1952. At Harding, Corny, who was too small to play varsity sports, was football and basketball manager under coach Steve Miska and baseball for coach Sal Caggianello.

After serving in the U.S. Army as a tanker in West Germany, Cornwell joined Charlie Rich's talented Royals program (1959-64) before moving on to the Pilots of the Senior City League, Grosso-Seavy American Legion and the Connecticut Oxygen Connie Mack team with Bus Dobbs.

In 1969 he started a 14-year career as a scout with the Philadelphia Philles and the Cincinnati Reds, recommending four players who reached the Major League. There were also many other players whom he helped to minor league and colleges careers.

Ed served two stints for close to a combined 20 years as president of the Senior City League and still continues to serve as an advisor. The SCL has named its Coach of the Year Award in his honor.

Some of the honors Cornwell has been accorded, include: State Amateur Baseball Congress Sportsmanship Award (1992), Bridgeport Old Timers Al Bike Outstanding Sportsman Award (2000) and its Man of the Year (2006). Last November Corny was feated at a testimonial for a lifetime of unselfish contributions at a packed Testo's Ristorante.

Cornwell retired from the State of Connecticut in 1992 and has seven children and 16 grandchildren.

Tom Penders

Penders played three years of baseball at Stratford High School (1962-64) and basketball when he was the state's leading scorer his senior season. At UConn he served as the team captain in baseball (1967) and basketball (1966-67) when he played in the NCAAs in 1965 and 67. Tom and his brother, Jim, were also members of the 1965 Huskies that advanced to the College World Series.

Tom also pastimed for the Savoys in the Senior City League and the Stratford Collegians in the CCSBL before being selected by the Cleveland Indians in the ninth round of the 1968 draft. After finishing his first year at Class AA Waterbury, Penders retired from baseball and began his career as a basketball coach in 1969 at Bullard Havens Tech and Central High in Bridgeport with a combined record of 59-10 over three years. He also played fast-pitch softball during his early coaching years with the Raybestos and Franklin Cardinals and was a member of five ASA National Championship teams and was named a two-time All-American as a centerfielder.

Penders continued his winning ways on the college level with an overall record of 648-438 (.597) at seven schools with 11 NCAA and seven NIT appearances.

Tom has recently served as an analyst for FOX Sports Radio and CBS Sports and co-authored "Dead Coach Walking".

Tom comes from a legendary coaching family. His father, Jim, coached baseball at Stratford High from 1931-68 with four state championships and his brother, Jim, has also won four state baseball titles in 43 years at East Catholic H.S. in Manchester and was the national high school Coach of the Year in 1996.

Tom (wife Suzie) has three children and two grandchildren, Mattingly (6) and Jaxson (3) Penders.

Alvin "Bud" Russell

Russell got his early start in organized sports in the Sterling House and Bridgeport YMCA Inter-Church Leagues leagues. He went on to letter in seven varsity sports at Stratford High School, including his senior year in 1954 when he was a member of the 20-0 basketball team that won the Fairfield County championship. He also played two years of American Legion baseball and two years with the Stratford Merchants of the Senior City League.

He played three years of varsity baseball and two in basketball at New Haven State Teachers College (now Southern Connecticut State) and graduated with a BS degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation. He continued his education with masters degree in education from the University of Bridgeport in 1959 and his 6th year professional degree in administration and supervision in 1977.

He taught physical education and health for 36 years at Danbury High (1959), Johnson Junior High (1960) and Stratford High (1975).

Russell succeeded the legendary Jim Penders in 1969 as the Stratford High baseball coach and compiled a 252-162 record with 18 winning seasons in 21 years with 10 all-state players and two who signed pro contracts.

Russell initiated the SHS soccer program in 1974 and coached 11 seasons with an overall record of 100-52-19 with four all-state players. Both his soccer and baseball teams won a pair of league titles and he was the CCIAC Coach of the Year (1988-89).

In 1999 he was inducted into the second class of the SHS Hall of Fame. Russell credits Ray Needham, Manning Harvey and Jim Penders as mentors who helped shape his life in education.

Bud and his wife Paula (Lakatos) have been married 53 years with three children and five grandchildren.

James Dillon

Dillon, a graduate of Stratford High School (1962), Butler Business School (1963) and Warren Tech in Bridgeport (1964) has received numerous awards for his tireless work on behalf of the Stratford Community.

Dillon has served his community in the following ways: Boys basketball coach at St. Mark's Church (five years), Stratford P.A.L. girls softball league coach (six years), Stratford P.A.L. president (20 years); volunteered and coached girls travel softball teams (eight years); volunteered and coordinated the grounds crew for the National Women's Fast Pitch Tournament and organized the dedication of the Erin Babineau Field at Chapel School.

He has also been honored with the Friends of Education Award in Stratford (1992-93); the Stratford Sports Person of the Year (2005) and the Wigwam Park Honoree>

Dillon spent 1964-71 at Bullard Manufacturing in Bridgeport and has been self employed with J.R. Dillon and Daughters Landscaping since 1971.

Jim and his wife Paulette have been married for 41 years and have two daughters and one grandson, Matthew.

Alexander "Sandy" Sulzycki

Sulzycki is in his 41st year as a sports copy editor at the Connecticut Post newspaper. For close to 35 of those years he has written the popular weekly nostalgia column "The Week That Was" that highlights the region's top games and players from each of the last six decades. He has also put together "Those Were The Days", featuring photos of teams from the past and "Where Are They Now", which catches up on the careers and memories of the region's outstanding athletes.

After playing baseball and basketball at Fairfield Prep (1964) and Rollins College (1968), Sulzycki has stayed active role with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bridgeport (Robert Noonan Memorial Foundation), the Senior City League, the Connecticut Collegiate Summer Baseball League as a player coach with the Stratford Collegians; and the Fairfield County Chapter of Approved Baseball Umpires (Honorary Life member with 35 years of service) and IAABO Fairfield County Board 9 Basketball Officials (36 years).

He has received the Orcutt Boys Club Service Award; the Zone IV American Legion Baseball Service Award (1984); the City of Bridgeport Mayor's Community Service Award (1986); the Greater Bridgeport Athletic Association's Al Bike Outstanding Sportsman Award (1999); the Marshall Pettway Senior City League Sportsmanship Award (2006 for 50 years of continuing service as a player, coach, umpire-in-chief and advisor); and was selected the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Umpire of the Year (2006).

He is a past President of the Connecticut College Baseball Umpires Association and has worked Big East, Ivy League, MAAC and NEC conferences, including two Ivy championships, five ECAC Division I regionals, three NCAA Division II regionals and the New England College All-Star Game at Fenway Park. He is a Third Degree member of the Knights of Columbus Monsignor Murphy Council out of St. Patrick's Church in Bridgeport.

Sandy and his wife Kathy (Slonka) of 38 years reside in Milford and have three children and one grandson, Evan Alexander Sulzycki.